What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThere There
Tommy Orange · Book · 2018
If you loved There There, start with Reservation Dogs (Taika Waititi, 2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to There There across media.
What hooked you in There There was the way it weaves disparate, wounded lives into a singular, haunting tapestry of identity.
Films on the same thread
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Kelly Fremon Craig · Film · 2023
Explores: Adolescence, Female Friendship, Religious Identity.
Like the characters in There There navigating their heritage, Margaret grapples with the quiet, transformative process of defining her own identity amidst the expectations of her surroundings.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Similar to the interconnected lives in There There, this story explores how unlikely bonds and hidden histories can provide a sense of belonging for those navigating deep personal grief.
Ordinary People
Robert Redford · Film · 1980
Explores: Grief, Guilt, Suicide Attempt.
This film mirrors the raw emotional excavation found in There There by focusing on the lingering, often unspoken trauma that ripples through a family and alters their collective trajectory.
You Were Never Really Here
Lynne Ramsay · Film · 2017
Shares a thread with There There: Trauma.
If the visceral, grounded nature of the trauma in There There resonated with you, this film offers a similarly intense look at how past violence shapes a fractured present.
Series on the same thread
Reservation Dogs
Taika Waititi · Series · 2021
Explores: Indigenous identity, small-town life, teenage friendship.
This series shares the sharp, authentic perspective on Indigenous identity found in There There, capturing the poignant search for community and self-determination among a younger generation.
IT: Welcome to Derry
Andy Muschietti · Series · 2025
Explores: Childhood Trauma, Ancient Evil, Group of Friends.
Just as There There examines how history and community influence individual lives, this story tracks how long-buried secrets and collective trauma manifest within a group of interconnected friends.
Orange Is the New Black
Jenji Kohan · Series · 2013
Explores: Female Ensemble, Incarceration, Social Class.
Much like the ensemble cast of There There, this show builds a complex portrait of identity by bringing together a diverse group of people forced to confront their pasts.
Mare of Easttown
Brad Ingelsby · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with There There: Trauma.
This procedural echoes the heavy themes of trauma and community displacement present in There There, showing how a singular event can expose the deep-seated fractures within a small town.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
If you appreciated the polyphonic narrative style of There There, you will value this podcast's dedication to capturing the diverse, unfolding realities of the human experience through personal storytelling.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This series provides the essential historical context for the systemic struggles that inform the characters' lives in There There, grounding your understanding of national identity and its enduring legacy.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is There There a standalone novel?
Yes, There There is a standalone contemporary classic by Tommy Orange. It follows twelve characters from Native communities as they travel to the Big Oakland Powwow. There are no sequels or series installments listed for this title in the provided metadata.
How many characters are featured in There There?
There There follows twelve distinct characters from Native communities. Each individual is traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow, and the narrative explores how these characters are connected to one another in ways they may not yet realize throughout the course of the novel.
Was There There recognized for any literary awards?
Yes, There There is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and a national bestseller. The novel received significant critical acclaim, including being described by Margaret Atwood as an astonishing literary debut that centers Native American voices within a contemporary classic framework.
What is the primary setting of There There?
The primary setting of There There is the Big Oakland Powwow. The novel follows twelve characters from Native communities as they all travel toward this specific event, which serves as the central location where their individual stories and connections to one another begin to unfold.